seat

\ ˈsēt

How to pronounce seat (audio)

\

Definition of seat

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a special chair of one in eminence also : the status represented by it

b : a chair, stool, or bench intended to be sat in or on

c : the particular part of something on which one rests in sitting the seat of a chair trouser seat

2a : a seating accommodation a seat for the game a 200-seat restaurant

b : a right of sitting lost his seat in Congress

c : membership on an exchange

3a : a place where something specified is prevalent : center a seat of learning

b : a place from which authority is exercised the county seat

c : a bodily part in which some function or condition is centered the brain as the seat of the mind

4 : posture in or way of sitting on horseback

5a : a part at or forming the base of something

b : a part (such as a socket) or surface on or in which another part or surface rests

by the seat of one's pants

: using experience and intuition rather than mechanical aids or formal theory

seat

seated; seating; seats

Definition of seat (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to install in a seat of dignity or office

b(1) : to cause to sit or assist in finding a seat

(2) : to provide seats for a theater seating 1000 persons

c : to put in a sitting position

2 : to repair the seat of or provide a new seat for

3 : to fit to or with a seat seat a valve

intransitive verb

1 archaic : to take one's seat or place

2 : to fit correctly on a seat

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about seat

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of seat in a Sentence

Noun There were seats for six people at the table. a car with leather seats He used the box as a seat. He couldn't find his seat in the concert hall. The city recently built a new 1,000-seat theater. She booked a seat on the next flight to Rome. The stool's seat is broken. The chairs have woven seats. The Democrats gained two more seats in the last election. She won a Senate seat. Verb I could seat you here if you wish. The plans call for a stadium seating 30,000 people.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The other election pitted 71-year-old former business executive David Perdue, a Republican who held his Senate seat until his term expired on Sunday, against Democrat Jon Ossoff, a former congressional aide and journalist. — Steve Peoples, Time, "Georgia Begins Counting Votes in Runoff Elections That Will Determine Control of U.S. Senate," 6 Jan. 2021 Perdue cannot join them, because his term is up, but Loeffler, who was appointed to fill a seat left vacant when Senator Johnny Isakson resigned for health reasons, can and will. — Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, "Donald Trump’s Alarming Call to Battle in Georgia," 5 Jan. 2021 Valadao, who is a dairy farmer, represents a mainly agricultural district that is three-quarters Latino and had held the seat for three terms before losing to Democrat TJ Cox in 2018. — Stephanie Lai, Los Angeles Times, "Republican congressional wins in California won’t avert party’s ‘death spiral,’ analysts say," 4 Jan. 2021 Democrat Brooke Pinto, who won a special election to fill the Ward 2 seat in June, will continue to represent the region. — Washington Post, "New D.C. Council, led by women and Black leaders, reiterate promises to confront systemic racism, navigate pandemic," 2 Jan. 2021 Altamirano, who had been appointed in 2019 to fill a vacant seat, did not seek election this year. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Judge agrees to dismiss hearing for restraining order filed by Lemon Grove," 30 Dec. 2020 Attorney General Keith Ellison, who held the seat before Omar, served his first term in Congress during the administration of Republican President George W. Bush; Democrat Barack Obama was elected two years later. — Briana Bierschbach Star Tribune, Star Tribune, "In second term, Rep. Ilhan Omar focuses on pushing Biden on progressive agenda," 13 Dec. 2020 Gabbard has held her seat since 2013, but her tenure in Congress is about to end. — Spencer Neale, Washington Examiner, "Tulsi Gabbard joins Republican in introducing bill to block transgender athletes from competing in women's sports," 11 Dec. 2020 Mallo, who was reelected in November, won the anonymous vote over member Vicky Cutroneo, who held the seat previously. — Jacob Calvin Meyer, baltimoresun.com, "After swearing in of new members, Chao Wu becomes first Asian American to serve as Howard school board chair," 7 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Marisa Ferrarin, owner of the Lower East Side burlesque supper club Duane Park, has booked her 10 outdoor tables, which can seat about 20, for New Year’s Eve. — Kate King, WSJ, "New York City Restaurants Limp Their Way Out of 2020," 30 Dec. 2020 The Far East Cafe, which could seat 800 diners at a time, was 100 years old. — Carl Nolte, SFChronicle.com, "San Franciscans will be key ingredient if city’s restaurants are to survive," 26 Dec. 2020 Lift lines are now more spread out, and the quad lifts, which normally seat four people, are now limited to two unless a family of three or four is skiing together. — Loren Holmes, Anchorage Daily News, "Alyeska Resort opens for the season with a 100-inch base and new pandemic guidelines," 19 Dec. 2020 The clear vinyl domes seat up to 10 people and can withstand rain and snow. — Jeff Bollier, Star Tribune, "COVID cold: Restaurants try to keep customers through winter," 7 Nov. 2020 Since late September, Yu, of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of New York, said the resumption of indoor service at 25 percent capacity has benefited large dim sum restaurants such as Jing Fong, which can normally seat more than 1,000 guests. — NBC News, "A year of loss, heartache, looming eviction — and rescuing itself — for Chinatown," 14 Dec. 2020 Each option — which can seat up to six — can be booked for 90 minutes. — Rafael Guerrero, chicagotribune.com, "Dome forests, villas, greenhouses: For these Naperville establishments, it’s ‘adapt or die’ this winter," 11 Dec. 2020 The heated greenhouses, which seat up to six, are already visible next to the park. — Kathy Flanigan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Bars and restaurants use domes, greenhouses and cocktail huts to keep patrons warm in winter," 18 Nov. 2020 The Orpheum Theatre, which can seat more than 1,300 people, will only sell 300 tickets per screening. — Kimi Robinson, The Arizona Republic, "'A true movie house once again': An iconic downtown Phoenix theater returns to its roots," 23 Oct. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'seat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about seat

Dictionary Entries near seat

Statistics for seat

Last Updated

11 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Seat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seat. Accessed 19 Jan. 2021.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for seat

seat

noun

English Language Learners Definition of seat

(Entry 1 of 2)

: something (such as a chair) that you sit on : a place for sitting

: the part of a chair or other piece of furniture that a person sits on

: the part of a piece of clothing (such as a skirt or pair of pants) that you sit on

seat

verb

English Language Learners Definition of seat (Entry 2 of 2)

: to give (a person) a place to sit

: to have enough seats for (a certain number of people)

See the full definition for seat in the English Language Learners Dictionary

seat

\ ˈsēt

\

Kids Definition of seat

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : something (as a chair) used to sit in or on

2 : the part of something on which a person sits a chair seat There's a tear on the seat of my pants.

3 : the place on or at which a person sits Take your seat.

4 : a place that serves as a capital or center a seat of government

seat

seated; seating

Kids Definition of seat (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to place in or on a seat Ushers seated the guests.

2 : to have enough places to sit for The hall seats 500 people.

seat

\ ˈsēt

\

Medical Definition of seat

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a part or surface especially in dentistry on or in which another part or surface rests — see rest seat

seat

transitive verb

Medical Definition of seat (Entry 2 of 2)

: to provide with or position on a dental seat

intransitive verb

: to fit correctly on a dental seat

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

conjecture

Listen to the pronunciation of conjecture

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words of Snow and Ice Quiz

Which of the following refers to thin, bending ice, or to the act of running over such ice?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Anagram puzzles meet word search.